Mixing valve for fluids

ABSTRACT

A valve housing has an internal mixing chamber and an elongated passage rising from the mixing chamber. At least two fluid conduits open at the bottom wall of the mixing chamber and communicate with the latter so as to discharge fluid under pressure thereinto. A valve arrangement includes a member of arcuately segmental shape which is provided at its opposite ends with valve members accommodated in the open ends of the conduits and capable of being deflected from the closed position in which they stop fluid flow, to open positions in which they are located farther in the mixing chamber and permit the fluid flow into the same. A valve control element is mounted in the passage and is turnable as well as axially displaceable therein, having a lower end face constructed as a cam face and capable of engaging the valve members in a sense moving them to closed position, or retracting therefrom in a sense permitting the valve members to be displaced by the pressure of fluid in the conduits to positions in which they are spaced at different distances from the openings of the conduits and permit the fluid flow out of the conduits into the mixing chamber at different rates.

United States Patent Huneke MIXING VALVE FOR FLUIDS Inventor: EgonHuneke, Hemer, Germany Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Armatureniabrik,

Hemer/Brepl, Germany Dec. 10, 1970 Filed:

Appl. No.:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. II, 1969 Germany ..P 19 62026.9

[52] US. Cl. ..137/636.I, l37/625.4, 137/6364,

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Dombre ..l37/636 X Corlett ..l37/636.4 X

[ Dec. 5, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A valve housing has an internal mixingchamber and an elongated passage rising from the mixing chamber. Atleast two fluid conduits open at thebottom wall of the mixing chamberand communicate with the latter so as to discharge fluid under pressurethereinto. A valve arrangement includes a member of arcuately segmentalshape which is provided at its opposite ends with valve membersaccommodated in the open ends of the conduits and capable of beingdeflected from the closed position in which they stop fluid flow, toopen positions in which they are located farther in the mixing chamberand permit the fluid flow into the .same. A valve control element ismounted in the passage and is turnable as well as axially displaceabletherein, having a lower end'face constructed as a cam therefrom in asense permitting the valve members to be displaced by the pressure offluid in the conduits to positions in which they are spaced at differentdistances from the openings of the conduits and peri,0i5,290 9/1957Germany ..I37/625.4 mit the flow out of the conduits into the mixingchamber at different rates.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures l l i 8 6 a 42 i: as 27/ {0 /J ;J T /7 1 T2 72 PATENTEDUEC 5 I972 SHEET 2 0F 2 FIG. 4

FIG. 3

FIG. 7

FIG. 6

INVENTOR E6 0 lluua ce ATTORNEY MIXING VALVE FOR FLUIDS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION -T he present invention relates generally to a valve, andmore particularly to a mixing valve for fluids.

Such valves are already known and are used, for instance, in providingfor admixture of hot and cold water in kitchen and bathroominstallations. One known construction has a housing in which a controlpiston is turnable and in which the turning of the control piston opensand closes flow-through apertures for the fluids, that is the water, todifferent extents. This construction, however, has certaindisadvantages. On the one hand it is not readily possible to provide afine adjustment of the water temperature which is usually desired forsuch kitchen or bathroom applications, namely temperatures on the orderof between substantially 30 and 42C, and on the other hand the controlpiston requires O-ring seals which must be provided on its circumferenceand which are difficult to accommodate because of their lack of space.Also, and particularly because of the provision of the seals but alsobecause of other features, the known construction is rather complicatedand subject to malfunctions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I It is accordingly, an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved mixing valve of the type underdiscussion.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to providesuch an improved mixing valve which makes it possible to effectregulation of the desired mixed-water temperature of betweensubstantially 30 and 42C with a considerably greater range of accuracythan is possible with the known construction discussed above.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a very simpleand highly reliable mixing valve of the type under discussion.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such a constructionwhich is inexpensive in terms of technical and financial expenditure,and also much less subject to malfunction thanwhat is heretofore knownin this field.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a mixing valve forfluids which, briefly stated, comprises a valve housing having aninternal mixing chamber provided with a bottom wall and an elongatedpassage extending upwardly from the mixing chamber. At least two fluidconduits are provided each having an outlet in the bottom wall andcommunicating with the mixing chamber for discharging fluid underpressure into the same. A valve arrangement is provided, including atleast two valve members accommodated in the mixing chamber and eachmovable between a closure position in which it is partially lodged inand closes an associated one of the outlets, and a plurality of openingpositions in which it is upwardly displaced out of the associated outletto different extents. Finally, I also provide a valve control elementmounted in the passage turnable and axially displaceable therein and inpart projecting beyond the housing for access by a user; the valvecontrol element has an inner end located in the mixing chamber andprovided with means for engaging the valve members and urging them toclosing position, and for permitting the valve members to move to therespective open positions thereof in dependence upon the compositerotational and axial displacement of the valve control member and inresponse to the pressure of fluid in the conduits.

The valve members have freedom of movement with reference to one anotherbetween their closing and opening positions and are for this purposeadvantageously provided on the opposite ends of anarcuate segmentalmember which preferably is composed at least predominantly ofelastomeric material, such as a suitable plastic, and which is mountedagainst rotation in the mixing chamber overlying the bottom wall thereofso that the valve members in closing position extend into and close therespective openings. Preferably the valve members are unitary with-forin stance of one piece with-the segmental element.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an axial'section through amixing. valve according to the present invention, with the valve beingin completely closed position;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line A-B of FIG. 1 looking'in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary axial section taken on the line CD of FIG. 2, onan enlarged scale, showing the valve in closed position;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the valve in openposition;

FIG. 4 is a top-plan view of a component of the valve in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a side-elevation of the component in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevation of a, further component of the embodiment inFIGS. I3; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but in partial axial section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now FIGS. 1-7 indetail, it is pointed out that reference numeral 1 identifies the valvehousing in toto. In conventional manner the valve housing 1 is providedwith a spigot 2 which is only fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1 as it iswell known. A shaft portion 3 of the valve housing serves for connectingthe same in a cutout provided for this purpose in a bathroom lavatory, akitchen sink or the like.

Reference numerals 4 and 5 identify the supply channels or conduits forcooled or warm water (conduit 5 is concealed behind conduit 4 in FIG. 1)and reference numeral 6 identifies an outlet channel which communicatesvia a bore 7 with a mixing chamber 8 provided in the interior of thevalve housing 1, and from which mixed water at the desired selectedtemperature is supplied to a kitchen spray, a hair-rinsing spray, or thelike.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mixing chamber 8 has a bottom wall 9 in whichthe outlets of the conduits 4 and 5 terminate, as evident from FIG. 2.Located in the interior of the mixing chamber 8, overlying the flatbottom wall 9 thereof, is an annular segmental or ring-segmental member10 of a suitable elastomer, for instance an elastomeric plastic. It isprovided with a requisite number of projections-here three-11 each ofwhich extends into a blind bore 12 provided in the bottom wall 9,whereby the member 10 is prevented from rotation within the chamber 8.As FIGS. 4 and 5 show particularly clearly, the member 10 is provided atits opposite ends with two valve members 13 which preferably are unitarywith it and which each extend into the respective outlets of theconduits 4 and 5.

Reference numeral 16 is a control cylinder which controls the operationof these valve members 13. It is turnably mounted in a bore 32 of aportion 28 of the housing, and is provided with a guide ring 35 in orderto reduce friction betweenthe portion 28 and the cylinder 16., Thelatter presses with a slightsliding abutment with its control surfaces17 and 18 upon the member 10, as shown particularly clearly in FIGS. 6and 7. The surface 17 corresponds to approximately one-third of thecircumference of the annular end face constituted of the surfaces 17 and18, and it is planar; the surface 18 amounts to approximately theremaining two-thirds of the circumference and is configurated in a wavyinclined shape, as is particularly evident from a comparison of FIGS. 6and 7.

Depending upon the angular position of the cylinder 6, one of the valvemember 13, the other of the valve members 13 or both of the valvemembers 13 may thus be free to be displaced inwardly into the chamber 8in a sense opening the respectively associated outlet of the conduits 4or 5, as the respective valve members and the member 10 are deflectedinwardly under the pressure of water in the respective conduits 4 and 5.The degree, however, to which the valve members are thus inwardlydisplaced differs in dependence upon the position of the cylinder 16.The rotational movement of the cylinder 16 is limited to approximately180 by provision of an abutment 19 on the housing 1.

The lower end of the cylinder 16 is provided with the pressure relief orcompensating piston 20 which is guided in a bore 23, being sealed withreference to the surrounding wall by an O-ring 22 located in a groove 21of the piston 20. A relief bore 24 communicates with the bore 23.

The control cylinder 16 is provided with inlet apertures 25 whichcommunicates both with the interior of the cylinder 16 and with themixing chamber 8. Upwardly above the inlet apertures 25, and diametrallyopposite one another, are provided the outlet bores or apertures 26which are shown particularly in FIGS. 6 and 7 and which communicate withthe outlet bores 27 in the portion 28. The cylinder 16 is mounted in thebore 32 of the portion 28 for turning movement, and

above and below the bores 26 are provided O-ringseals A slide member 36is slidably mounted in bore 14 of the control cylinder 16 and sealed bythe O-ring seals 37 and 38. A handle 46 is provided which is fast withthe slide member 36 and externally accessible for engagement by a user.By displacing the slide member 36, which can be raised and lowered bygripping the handle 46, the flow-through cross-sections of the bores 26can be varied and thereby regulated. That portion of the member 36 whichis located in the pressure equalizing chamber 39 of the control cylinder16, is configurated and constructed as a servo pressure piston 40 andprovided with O-ring seal 41 and 42. Its displacement in upwarddirection is limited by the gland 44 which is retained against theabutment 15 and through which the portion of the slide member 36 whichextends to the handle 46 passes in sealing relationship. Downwarddisplacement is limited by the abutment 43 provided in the controlcylinder 16, where there is also provided a vent or relief bore 45. Thehandle 46 is fast in known and therefore not separately illustratedmanner with the slide member 36; it is also connected with thecontrolcylinder 16for movement slidable with reference thereto butwithout having freedom of .rotation with reference thereto. This meansthat when the handle 46 is turned, the control cylinder v16 is similarlyturned whereas depressing or pulling up of the handle 46 slides theslide'me'mber 36 with reference to the control cylinder 16.

From the description thus far and from a consideration of the drawingthe operation of the novel valve according to the present invention willalready be obvious. When the handle 46 is turned, the control cylinder16 similarly turns and its surfaces 17 and 18 slide over the elastomericring segment 10. When the inclined surface 18 more or less frees orexposes the ends of the ring segment lo where the valve members 13 arecarried, that is when it assumes the position of FIG; 3a, and when atthe same time the slide member 36 is moved to open position, then theheretofore closed valve members 13 are lifted off their respective seatsin upward direction into the chamber 8, under the influence of thepressure of water in the conduits 4 and 5. Such displacement can takeplace to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon the position of thesurface 18. Now, warm and cold water from the conduits 4 and 5 entersinto the mixing chamber 8 where it becomes admixed and from where itenters the interior of the control cylinder 16.

On the other hand, when the slide member 36 is in closed position, thevalve member 13 also will be in closed position as shown in FIG. 3.

Depending upon the angular position of the surfaces 17 nd 18 withreference to the element 10, the valves 13 can be completely closed oropened in varying relationships. By raising or depressing of the handle46 and thereby the associated slide member 36, the quantity of liquidentering into and then leaving the interior of the control cylinder 16for passing into the spigot, can be regulated continuously, that is aprecise regulation of the flow is possible.

It will be appreciated that the construction according to the presentinvention is particularly simple, both from a structural point of viewas well as from a manufacturing point of view and assembly point ofview. Furthermore, it is highly resistant to malfunctions in actual use.All operating components are rotatable components and after the circlip31 is removed, the entire regulating mechanism of the valve can beremoved or inserted subsequently as a unit.

By suitably configurating the surfaces 17 and 18 the possibility isachieved for obtaining an accuracy of regulation-particularly for thenormal use temperatures of between 30 and 42C.which has heretoforeeluded the art. It is also an advantage of the construction according tothe present invention that the provision of separate one-way valvesblocking return flow of water is eliminated, because the elastic ringsegment will inherently act in conjunction with the associated valvemembers 13 as a return flow-blocking instrumentality in the case ofpressure differentials in the incoming cold water and warm watersupplies.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in amixing valve for fluids, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since j various modifications and structural changes may becharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this I inventionand, therefore such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A mixing valve for fluids, comprising a valve housing having aninternal mixing chamber provided with a bottom wall and an elongatedpassage extending upwardly from said mixing chamber; at least two fluidconduits each having an outlet in said bottom wall and communicatingwith said mixing chamber for discharging fluid under pressure into thesame; a valve arrangement comprising an arcuate support segment havingspaced end portions and overlying said bottom wall and two valve membersrespectively provided on said end portions and each movable between aclosure position in which it is partially lodged in and closes anassociated one of said outlets, and a plurality of opening positions inwhich it is upwardly displaced out of said associated outlet todifferent extents; and a valve control element mounted in said passageturnable and axially displaceable therein and in part projecting beyondsaid housing for access by a user, said valve control element having aninner end located in said mixing chamber and provided with means forengaging said valve members and urging them to said closing posi tion,and for permitting said valve members to move to said respective openpositions thereof in dependence upon the composite rotational and axialdisplacement of said valve control member and in response to heincluding cam means provided on said inner end and operative forengagement with said valve members.

3. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, said valve members being ofsubstantially conical configuration and each arranged to extend at leastin part axially into one of said outlets.

4. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein aid arcuate segmentconsists at least predominantly of elastomeric material.

5. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve members areunitary with said arcuate segment.

6. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1; further comprisingrotation-preventing means on said segment and said housing forpreventing rotation of the former with reference to he latter in saidmixing chamber.

7. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, said means comprising anannular face surrounding the, axis of rotation ofsaid valve controlelement, said face having a smooth portion extending over substantiallyone-third over the circumference of said annular face and a wavy portionextending over substantially two-thirds of said circumference; l

8. A mixing valve as defined in claim 7,, said annular face beinganaxial endface of said valve control element and facing towards saidbottom wall of said chamber.

9. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, said valve control elementbeing a control cylinder having a central bore, and a plurality ofapertures communicating with said central bore and with aid mixingchamber, respectively.

10. A mixing valve as defined in'claim 9, said housing comprising'afirst portion provided with said mixing chamber, and a second portionprovided with said passage, and wherein said control cylinder is mountedin said second portion; and further comprising sealing means sealingsaid housing against escape of fluid through said passage along saidcontrol cylinder.

11. A mixing valve as defined in claim 10; and further comprising aspring ring releasably connecting said second portion with said firstportion of said housing.

12. A mixing valve as defined in claim 11, wherein said second portionand said valve control element are removable as a unit from said firstportion in response to release of said spring ring.

13. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, said valve control elementcomprising control cylinder having a central axial bore provided with aplurality of apertures communicating with said bore and said mixingchamber, respectively, and a slide member slidably mounted in said borefor blocking nd unblocking said apertures in dependence upon slidingmovement of said slide member with reference to said control cylinder.

14. A mixing valve as defined in claim 13, said valve control elementfurther comprising a pressure-relief piston operatively associated withsaid slide member.

1. A mixing valve for fluids, comprising a valve housing having aninternal mixing chamber provided with a bottom wall and an elongatedpassage extending upwardly from said mixing chamber; at least two fluidconduits each having an outlet in said bottom wall and communicatingwith said mixing chamber for discharging fluid under pressure into thesame; a valve arrangement comprising an arcuate support segment havingspaced end portions and overlying said bottom wall and two valve membersrespectively provided on said end portions and each movable between aclosure position in which it is partially lodged in and closes anassociated one of said outlets, and a plurality of opening positions inwhich it is upwardly displaced out of said associated outlet todifferent extents; and a valve control element mounted in said passageturnable and axially displaceable therein and in part projecting beyondsaid housing for access by a user, said valve control element having aninner end located in said mixing chamber and provided with means forengaging said valve members and urging them to said closing position,and for permitting said valve members to move to said respective openpositions thereof in dependence upon the composite rotational and axialdisplacement of said valve control member and in response to he pressureof fluid in said conduits.
 2. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, saidmeans including cam means provided on said inner end and operative forengagement with said valve members.
 3. A mixing valve as defined inclaim 1, said valve members being of substantially conical configurationand each arranged to extend at least in part axially into one of saidoutlets.
 4. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein aid arcuatesegment consists at least predominantly of elastomeric material.
 5. Amixing valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve members areunitary with said arcuate segment.
 6. A mixing valve as defined in claim1; further comprising rotation-preventing means on said segment and saidhousing for preventing rotation of the former with reference to helatter in said mixing chamber.
 7. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1,said means comprising an annular face surrounding the axis of rotationof said valve control element, said face having a smooth portionextending over substantially one-third over the circumference of saidannular face and a wavy portion extending over substantially two-thirdsof said circumference.
 8. A mixing valve as defined in claim 7, saidannular face being an axial endface of said valve control element andfacing towards said bottom wall of said chamber.
 9. A mixing valve asdefined in claim 1, said valve control element being a control cylinderhaving a central bore, and a plurality of apertures communicating withsaid central bore and with aid mixing chamber, respectively.
 10. Amixing valve as defined in claim 9, said housing comprising a firstportion provided with said mixing chamber, and a second portion providedwith said passage, and wherein said control cylinder is mounted in saidsecond portion; and further comprising sealing means sealing saidhousing against escape of fluid through said passage along said controlcylinder.
 11. A mixing valve as defined in claim 10; and furthercomprising a spring ring releasably connecting said second portion withsaid first portion of said housing.
 12. A mixing valve as defined inclaim 11, wherein said second portion and said valve control element areremovable as a unit from said first portion in response to release ofsaid spring ring.
 13. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, said valvecontrol element comprising control cylinder having a central axial boreprovided with a plurality of apertures communicating with said bore andsaid mixing chamber, respectively, and a slide member slidably mountedin said bore for blocking nd unblocking said apertures in dependenceupon sliding movement of said slide member with reference to saidcontrol cylinder.
 14. A mixing valve as defined in claim 13, said valvecontrol element further comprising a pressure-relief piston operativelyassociated with said slide member.